269,000 Kenyans Trapped in Modern Slavery as Nairobi Forum Demands Tough Action

269,000 Kenyans Trapped in Modern Slavery as Nairobi Forum Demands Tough Action

Artlibert Makori, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Child Labour Division, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, addresses the Freedom from Slavery Global Forum in Nairobi, calling for stronger action to combat modern slavery, forced labour, human trafficking and child labour.

By Jeff Oyugi

Nairobi – October 5, 2026

Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating modern slavery, forced labour, human trafficking and child labour, with the Government calling for stronger international cooperation, ethical recruitment and practical action to protect vulnerable populations.

Speaking during the opening of the 2026 Freedom from Slavery Global Forum in Nairobi, Artlibert Makori, Assistant Labour Commissioner in the Child Labour Division at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, who represented Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua, said Kenya’s commitment to freedom from exploitation was firmly anchored in the Constitution.

Makori said the country remained committed to strengthening systems that protect people from exploitation while promoting equality, access to justice and responsible business practices.

He said Kenya was taking deliberate measures to eliminate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour through stronger social protection programmes, responsible business conduct, access to justice and meaningful engagement with survivors and communities.

According to Makori, the nature of modern slavery was evolving, with poverty, conflicts, climate change, irregular migration, unethical recruitment and misuse of technology creating new vulnerabilities that required coordinated responses at national, regional and international levels.

He particularly highlighted labour migration as an area requiring greater attention, noting that many Kenyans were seeking employment opportunities in other countries and could face exploitation if recruitment and employment systems were not properly regulated.

Makori said Kenya was therefore working to strengthen cooperation with destination countries and improve labour migration systems, including through bilateral arrangements designed to enhance worker protection and accountability.

He called for institutions, employers, accountability groups and other stakeholders to work together to develop stronger protection mechanisms and promote fair labour markets.

“Ethical recruitment and accountability must remain at the heart of the labour migration journey,” he said.

Makori also stressed that no single institution could provide a complete solution to modern slavery, urging governments, development partners, businesses and civil society organisations to strengthen cooperation.

He acknowledged the contribution of partners supporting efforts to combat exploitation, including organisations involved in training and development assistance.

His remarks came as global leaders, survivor advocates, policymakers, businesses and civil society organisations gathered in Nairobi for the two-day international forum convened by Free the Slaves under the theme, “Freedom in a Changing World: Strengthening Protection, Accountability and Transforming the Systems Behind Modern Slavery.”

The October 5 and 6 meeting is seeking to shift the fight against modern slavery from declarations and dialogue towards practical commitments, stronger accountability and sustained action.

The forum has attracted participants from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and North America, bringing together government representatives, people with lived experience of modern slavery, businesses, academics, international experts and civil society organisations.

The gathering comes amid persistent exploitation across countries, industries and global supply chains, with poverty, conflict, weak accountability, unethical recruitment and opaque business practices continuing to expose millions of people to abuse.

According to the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery 2022, produced by the International Labour Organization, Walk Free and the International Organization for Migration, an estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021.

Kenya also faces a significant challenge. The Global Slavery Index 2023 estimates that about 269,000 people in Kenya were living in modern slavery, equivalent to five people in every 1,000. Separately, the National Council on Children’s Services estimates that about 17,500 Kenyans are trafficked annually, with half of them likely to be minors.

The figures have intensified calls for stronger prevention measures, protection of vulnerable populations and tougher action against individuals and institutions that benefit from exploitation.

Kenya’s position at the forum is also informed by its designation in 2024 as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, committing the country to accelerated action against forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour.

Free the Slaves Executive Director Bukeni Waruzi said the forum was providing an opportunity for participants to identify promising approaches, strengthen collaboration and develop an agenda for more effective action.

He said the adoption of the Declaration of Principles for Aligned Action against modern slavery demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening systemic responses while ensuring people with lived experience played a meaningful role in shaping solutions.

A major focus of the Nairobi meeting has been elevating survivor voices from participants in discussions to recognised experts whose experiences can influence policies and programmes.

Shamere McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Gate Foundation and a survivor leader, said people who had experienced exploitation should have a direct role in decisions affecting their lives.

“As a survivor leader, I know what it feels like to have decisions made about your life without your voice ever being part of the conversation,” McKenzie said, emphasising that lived experience should be treated as expertise.

The forum is examining responsible business practices, supply chain regulation, ethical recruitment, recovery and livelihoods, forced marriage, child domestic work, refugee trafficking risks and technology-facilitated trafficking.

Participants are expected to focus on developing a roadmap for system transformation, including responsible business practices, ethical recruitment, survivor leadership and practical action across sectors.

The discussions will culminate in efforts to advance the Principles for Aligned Action to End Modern Slavery, with organisers seeking commitments that extend beyond the Nairobi meeting.

For Kenya, the forum provides an opportunity to demonstrate how stronger labour protections, ethical recruitment, social protection and survivor participation can form part of a broader strategy to tackle exploitation.

The ultimate challenge remains translating international commitments into measurable action and ensuring that vulnerable workers, migrants and children receive meaningful protection while those who profit from exploitation face accountability.